YearToAvoid

2021 Chevrolet Spark Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

33/100

#7 most-complained of 10 Spark years

The 2021 Chevrolet Spark has 6 owner complaints and 0 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 33 out of 100 — #7 highest of 10 Spark model years (verdict: Good). The most reported problem area is airbags (2 complaints, 33% of the total). Complaints report 2 crashes and 3 injuries.

Complaints
6
Recalls
0
Crashes / fires
2 / 0
Injuries / deaths
3 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
33
29.5 city / 37.5 hwy

Top 2021 Chevrolet Spark problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Airbags2 (33%)
  2. Engine2 (33%)
  3. Fuel System2 (33%)
  4. Electrical System1 (17%)
  5. Other1 (17%)
  6. Seat Belts1 (17%)
  7. Steering1 (17%)
  8. Structure & Body1 (17%)
  9. Transmission & Powertrain1 (17%)
2021 Chevrolet Spark complaints: complaints filed per month6Feb 2021Aug 2021Jun 2024Apr 2025Dec 2025
12 complaints filed with NHTSA from Feb 2021 to Dec 2025; peak Apr 2025 (6).

2021 Chevrolet Spark recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2021 Chevrolet Spark fuel economy and fuel cost

City
29.5 MPG
Highway
37.5 MPG
Combined
33 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$1,950
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2021 compared with other Spark years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)02550751002013201420152016201720182019202020212022
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2019Good4414133
2020Avoid7819033
2021Good336033
2022No verdict113033

All Chevrolet Spark years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2021 Chevrolet Spark a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2021 Chevrolet Spark ranks #7 of 10 among Spark model years (Complaint Index 33/100, verdict: Good). It has 6 complaints and 0 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Chevrolet Spark?
The most reported problem areas are airbags (2 complaints), engine (2 complaints), and fuel system (2 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 31,000 miles.
Does the 2021 Chevrolet Spark have any recalls?
No safety recall campaigns list the 2021 Chevrolet Spark in NHTSA’s recall database at the time of the last data update.
What is the fuel economy of the 2021 Chevrolet Spark?
EPA rates the 2021 Chevrolet Spark at 33 MPG combined (29.5 city / 37.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $1,950. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.